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The Regent and State theatres converted to
talkies within weeks of opening, at first
screening under their twin film policy of one
talkie and one silent film.

In the meantime, Bourke Street started to fall
apart. The Star Theatre (Williamson Electric
Theatres) was first to close, followed by
Hoyts’ Gaiety (almost opposite). Hoyts
Deluxe, after continuing with silent films,
converted to a second run talkie house,
sharing the move-overs from the Regent
Collins Street. Still carrying on with silent
films (now first release) were Union’s Melba
and Britannia theatres. At the Paramount
and Strand theatres (Williamsons), some
films were concurrent with the independent
Empire (up the hill over Russell Street). The
Star re-opened for one day on the King’s
Birthday in June, then permanently closed.
The Melba converted to second run talkies
from the State. The silent co-features went
from the State to the Strand Theatre. At this
time, many silent cinemas closed because of
the cost of bringing their auditoriums up to an
acceptable acoustic standard for sound films.
The live theatres in Bourke St., the Theatre
Royal and opposite The Tivoli and Bijou
Vaudeville houses, carried on as well as the
Palace at the top of the street.

By the end of 1929, the only silent screen
theatres remaining in Bourke Street were the
Strand and Empire Theatres. In December
1929, the Palace (another Fuller house)
became another first release film house with
long run and weekly runs. Most successful
was MGM’s Hollywood Hotel, with an eight
week run, then with Radio Films for weekly
runs.

At Easter 1930, the former Hoyts Gaiety re-
opened, re-named by the Fullers as the Roxy.
It operated as a second run house for the
Palace weekly screenings, and the occasional The Melba Theatre, and next door the Britannia c. 1926. Image: State Library of Victoria.
first run of Universal’s Hoot Gibson films.
The Palace (Fullers) won the right to first distributor. Stuart Doyle was basically held
Union Theatres unsuccessfully negotiated release Warner Brothers - First National films responsible for the situation for building the
with the Presbyterian Church, the owners of for the next year, with the Roxy backing up as elaborate, expensive theatres before the
the Tait’s leased Auditorium, planning to the second release house. depression really got a firm grip of Australia.
reopen the hall in January 1930 with Two He had overspent on building the four picture
Black Crows. On Boxing Day 1930, Paramount pictures palaces - the State (Melbourne), the State and
took out a ten-year lease of the Capitol Capitol theatres (Sydney) and the
In the late 1930s, the Auditorium in Collins Theatre in Swanston St. This move Ambassadors theatre in Perth.
Street re-opened on an independent basis with diminished Union Theatres hold on
weekly and occasional first release Warner Paramount Pictures’ releases which the At the same time, Union Theatres was
Brothers - First National product for short company generally screened at the negotiating to purchase the Bourke Street
seasons. Negotiations with Warner Brothers - Athenaeum and Princess theatres. Theatre Royal (up for sale), condemned by
First National to use this venue as a permanent the Victorian Health Department as a fire
first run theatre had stalled. In 1931, the Princess returned to live theatre hazard. Its plan was to replace it with a 1500
operations as film supplies were drying up. seat long run house named after a Sydney
The Princess Theatre in Spring Street (a live Union Theatres struggled to terminate its counterpart of the Capitol – the Prince
theatre owned by Fuller Theatres) was leased leases on Fuller’s Melbourne Princess and Edward Theatre. Under the economic
by Union Theatres, together with the Sydney St. James theatres. circumstances brewing, it never happened as
St. James in Sydney, until mid-1932 for long had an earlier mid 1920s plan to build a 5000
run season talkies, opening with Coquette Towards the end of 1931, Union Theatres’ seat picture palace next door to the
(UA) in September for a four-week run, financial position deteriorated as Paramount neighbouring Strand and Star Theatres site.
followed by the Marx Brothers in Coconuts and Warner Brothers deserted the Union
(Paramount) for an 11 week run. circuit and moved to Hoyts. MGM was the In 1932, the downslide worsened for Union
major film supplier to come to the rescue. Theatres, almost pushing the company into
In 1931, Union Theatres again attempted to bankruptcy. Negotiations continued to
take out a three-year option to lease the Union Theatres had a good backing of British temporarily amalgamate with Hoyts (as had
Auditorium, but again negotiations failed. movies for which it was the Australian Associated Theatres) to better survive the

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